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April 3, 1962 Filed July 8, 1958 R. G. SMITH UNLOADING STATION [Ill 23 7 Z 6' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 .10. T a INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 3, 1962 Filed July 8, 1958 Tlana.

R. G. SMITH UNLOADING STATION 3 SheetsSheet 2 April 3, 1962 R. G. SMITH UNLOADING STATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 8, 1958 INVENTOR Eve/r421: 6. SMITH BY W M AZORNEY United States Patent York Filed July 8, 1958 Ser. No. 747,225 14 Claims. (Cl. 214-1465) The present invention relates to toy railroads and particularly to a freight unloading station for a toy railroad.

The unloading of freight cars loaded with relatively large individual pieces of freight such as timber, pipes, goods packed on pallets and the like by means of special lift trucks is part of the operation of a railroad. The present invention provides a toy for the simulation of such unloading operations by means of a toy lift truck movable between a trackside pick-up station and a discharging station. The invention furthermore provides means for automatically actuating the lifting and load-gripping mechanism of the lift truck in a cycle corresponding to the steps of the unloading operation in a freight yard.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toy lift truck is arranged to move forward and backward in a straight path at an angle to the tracks of the toy railroad in connection with which the device of the invention is to be used. The lifting meehanism is mounted on a revolving frame of the truck and is arranged to take a load of timber or the like from a toy railroad car stationed at one end of the path of travel of the truck and to deposit it laterally of the other end of said path.

The truck travels on a raised base plate on which the device of the invention is assembled and is actuated by an electric motor arranged on the base plate and connected to the truck by means of a linkage concealed beneath the base plate, the truck having an element extending downward through a slot in the base plate for engagement with the motor linkage.

Other features of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation partly in section, with the truck in position for pick-up;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section of the truck taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the load-gripping and lifting mechanism of the truck, with other elements removed for clarity;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the operation of the revolving mechanism of the truck;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the mechanism in a different position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section, of the truck and associated platform;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 10-40 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 11 is a section of the drive mechanism taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the freight unloading station of the invention is assembled on a base plate 15, carrying a raised discharging platform 16, an open shed 19, and a closed hut 20. A lift truck, generally designated by reference numeral 17, is arranged for travel between a dotted line position 17 to the full line position 17. One side of the base plate is placed along side tracks 18 of a toy railroad. A flat Patented Apr. 3, 1962 car 21 is positioned on the tracks to underlie the lift trucks dotted line unloading position.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the truck 17 comprises a stationary frame 22 having two transverse shafts 23, 23 on which are affixed for rotation therewith, pairs of front wheels 24, 24 and rear wheels 25, 25. A third transverse shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in the stationary frame 22 behind and somewhat below the front wheel shaft 23 and has a pulley 2'7 rotatably mounted thereon in the central plane of symmetry of truck 17. Guide bars 31, 32 extend downward from the front end and rear end respectively of truck 17 for engagement with a guide slot 33 formed in the base plate 15.

A plate 28 is slidably positioned in the stationary frame 22 for horizontal sliding movement between the rear wheel shaft 23 and a rod 26 mounted on the frame 22, and the front wheel shaft 23 and the pulley shaft 26. Plate 28 is provided with centrally aligned longitudinal notches 34 and 35 at the front end and rear end respectively to permit limited laterally guided movement of the plate past the depending guide bars 31 and 32. Forward movement of the plate 28 is limited by abutment of the inside edge of the slot 34 against the pulley 27. Rearward movement is stopped when a pin 36 which is centrally mounted on plate 28 contacts rod 26. One end of pin 36 passes for a short distance through the plate 28, the other end projects downward from plate 28 through the slot 33 in base plate 15.

The revolving frame 37 of truck 17 is pivotally fastened to the stationary frame 22 by means of a flanged bushing 38 which is aligned with the vertical tangent of the front end of the pulley 27. Two standards 41 extend upward and forward from the revolving frame 37 and support a twin-armed boom 42 by means of pivot pins 45. The two elements of boom 42 have mounted between them at their rear end a pin 40 carrying a drum 43, and are joined at their front end by a cross piece 44 (see also FIG. 6). The pin 40 passes through arcuate openings 46 in standards 41 and carries counterweights 39 which urge the rear end of boom 42 downward, thus urging the front end upward. The pin-4tl passes through arcuate openings 46 in standards 41 and thus limits pivotal movement of boom 42 about pivot pins 45. A lug 47 extending laterally and rearwardly from revolving frame 37 carries a cylindrical vertical guide roller 48.

To counterbalance the forward weight of the standards 41, of the boom 42, and of the load carried thereon, a counterweight 5i and the metal figure 52 of an operator are arranged on a bracket 53 extending rearward from the revolving frame 37 above a weight 54 mounted on the stationary frame 22 to simulate the hood of a driving motor.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, a string 55 fastened to pin 36 below sliding plate 28 is trained about the pulley 27, passed upwardly through the slot in flanged bushing 38, and thence forward over drum 43. The free end of string 55 is fastened to a lower jaw element .56 pivotally mounted on the front end of boom 42 behind the cross piece 44 and projecting forward beyond the cross piece. Lower jaw element 56 is part of the loadgrippin-g mechanism of lift truck 17 and cooperates with fixed upper-jaw elements 57 of the cross piece 44. Two upstanding stops '72, 72 (See FIG. 7) on each side of the fixed frame 22 are provided for limiting the pivotal movement of revolving frame 37.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 best show the arrangement for auto matic pivoting of the revolving frame 37 of truck 17. An elevated guide rail 58 is mounted on base plate 15 adjacent the guide slot 33 for camming engagement with vertical guide roller 48 fastened to the revolving frame 37 of truck 17 by means of lug 47. Guide rail 58 has a straight section 58' positioned to hold lug 47 substantially in abutment against stop 72, and a projecting section 58 for urging guide roller 48 into the notch 59 formed in the guide rail 58 when the truck moves backward, and guiding the roller 48 out of the notch 59 during the forward movement of the truck 17 whereby the revolving frame 37 is pivoted back and forth through a right angle.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an electric motor 62 is concealed in the closed hut 26 shown in FIG. 2. It drives a geared-down angle head 63 for rotary movement of a crank 64 in a horizontal plane below the level of the surface of base plate 15. A flat connecting rod 65 one end of which is joined to the crank 64 by means of a crank pin 60 (as shown in detail in FIG. 11) transforms the rotary movement of crank 64 into reciprocating pivoting movement of forked level 66 to which it is linked by means of a pin 67. The pin 67 is slidably fastened in an arcuate slot 68 in lever 66 and projects upward through a corresponding opening in plate 15. The lever 66 which is pivotally fastened to base plate 15 by means of pin 61 is yieldably urged towards the front edge of base plate 15 and away from connecting rod 65 by a spring 69 arranged between base plate 15 and discharging platform 16 as best seen in FIG. 10. The forked free end of lever 66 is adapted to engage pin 36 which projects downward from the sliding plate 28 through the guide slot 33 in base plate 15.

Referring again now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat car 21 carries timbers 70 on upstanding cross ties 71 to facilitate mechanical unloading. The timbers are of a thickness matched to the jaw opening between elements 56 and 57 of the load-gripping mechanism of truck 17 and are stacked on the cross ties 71 in a single row (see also FIG. 4). It is apparent that the unloading mechanism of the invention may readily be adapted to other items of freight by either varying the dimensions of the loadgripping jaws, or by providing the freight items with elements adapted to be gripped by a given set of jaws.

The unloading station of the invention operates as follows:

When the motor is energized by electric current in a Well-known manner, crank 64 rotates slowly and causes forked lever 66, the forked end of which engages pin 36, to move forward. The plate 28 being sli-dable in fixed frame 22 of truck 17 with very little friction, and the inertia of truck 17 and the friction of its wheels being relatively substantial, plate 28 slides forward in fixed frame 22 while the truck 17 at first remains stationary. String 55 thus is relaxed, the boom 42 is permitted to drop under its own weight, and the lower jaw elements 57 are lowered, thus opening the jaw. When the pin 36 moves the plate 28, it strikes the pulley 27 and forward movement of the truck is initiated, and the truck 17 rolls towards car 21 until the cross piece 44 comes to a stop against the first timber 70 on the flat car 21 as illustrated in fully drawn lines in FIG. 4.

Continued rotation of the crank 64 causes connecting rod 65 to overcome the force of spring 69 without any further movement of lever 66 and truck 17. On the subsequent return stroke of lever 66, pin 36 first pulls back sliding plate 28, thus tightening string 55 which closes jaws 56, 57 around the timber 76, which on continued pull raises the boom 42 to the position indicated by dashes in FIG. 4. At this moment pin 36 strikes the rod 26' and the truck 17 starts moving rearward.

Guide roller 48 (FIG. 2) travels along the straight section 58 of guide rail 58 holding the boom 42 aligned in the direction of travel, until the roller 48 abuts against the stop section 58" of the guide rail 58 and is forced into the notch 59 by the continued movement of truck 17. The revolving frame 37 is thus swung around until the right standard 41 comes to a halt against stop 72. Crank 64 and connecting rod 65 are arranged in such a manner that they will pass through dead center at this moment.

Lever 66 then resumes its forward travel, taking sliding plate 28 along while the truck 17 momentarily stops in the discharging position. Forward movement of pin 36 and of plate 28 relaxes the string 55 and releases the jaws 56, 57 of the load-gripping mechanism. The timber 70 previously held tight thereby is dropped to the discharging platform 16. As forked lever 66 continues its forward movement, the bottom of the front notch 34 of sliding plate 28 strikes the pulley 27 whereby the truck 17 is started on its forward travel. The guide roller 48 is moved out of notch 59 and the revolving frame 37 is swung towards fiat car 21. A new cycle is thus started.

When the last timber has been removed from the flat car, overtravel of the truck 17 over the edge of base plate 15 is prevented by abutment of front guide bar 31 against the end of guide slot 33.

It should be appreciated that the fork member 66 operatively engages the pin 36 aifixed to the sliding plate 28. Since the pin 36 may slide with its plate 28 backwardly and forwardly on the vehicle or truck 17, the pin 36 may be moved an initial distance by the member 66 without moving the truck 17, Le. upon initial movement of the fork member 66 in one direction the plate slides before the truck is moved. When the truck '17 is moved to the end of the slot and the depending guide bar 31 strikes the end wall of the platform forward movement of the truck is halted. Reverse movement of the fork member 66 causes movement of the pin 36 away from the pulley 27 and the raising of the boom 42.

it should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy unloader comprising a substantially horizontal platform having an elongated slot therein, a vehicle having a portion extending into and guided for movement along said slot and having a truck body with a boom mounted on said body at an elevation above the bottom thereof rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane on said vehicle, said boom having an outwardly extending portion, means to reciprocate said vehicle along said slot, and means on said platform engageable with the outwardly extending portion of said boom upon movement of the vehicle therepast to rotate said boom.

2. A toy unloader according to claim 1 wherein said boom is also pivotal for elevation and descent and including boom actuating means on said vehicle for elevating and lowering said boom, and contact means on said platform independent of said boom engageable means to motivate said boom actuating means.

3. A toy unloader comprising a platform member having an elongated slot therein, a vehicle movable along said slot, a boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle about a substantially vertical axis and pivotal on said vehicle about a substantially horizontal axis, means to move said Vehicle along said slot, a plate member slidable on said vehicle between predetermined limits including a portion extending downwardly from said vehicle connected to said vehicle moving means, and means connecting said plate member with said boom whereby movement of said plate member is effective initially to move said boom and thereafter said vehicle.

4. A toy unloader according to claim 3 including pivotal gripping means at the end of said boom and connected to said plate member and being movable thereby for gripping engagement and release of an object.

5. An unloading station for a toy railroad; comprising a raised base plate having an edge portion adapted to be placed alongside the tracks of said toy railroad and formed with a guide slot arranged at an angle to said edge; a toy lift truck having a stationary frame equipped with wheel means for travel on said base plate, pin means attached to said truck extending into said slot, a revolving frame pivotally mounted on said stationary frame, said revolving frame having a boom mounted thereon and being equipped with eccentric guide roller means, driving means arranged beneath said base plate for engagement with said pin means for actuating forward and backward movement of said truck and guide rail means arranged adjacent said slot including means engageable with said roller means to pivot said revolving frame on said stationary frame when the latter is moved past said engageable means.

6. An unloading station as set forth in claim 5, wherein said boom is pivotal in a vertical plane on said revolving frame, said stationary frame comprising a slide member slidably movable thereon, said pin means being mounted on said slide member, and connecting means attached to said slide member and said boom for pivotal movement of the latter responsive to the relative movement of said slide member and of said stationary frame.

7. An unloading station as set forth in claim 6, said boom comprising fixed jaw means mounted at the forward end thereof, and movable jaw means pivotally mounted on said boom for load-gripping cooperation with said fixed jaw means, said connecting means being attached to said movable jaw means of said boom, whereby said jaw means are closed and opened responsive to the relative movement of said slide member and of said stationary frame.

8. An unloading station as set forth in claim 5, including a prime mover mounted on said base plate, crank means driven by said prime mover, and linking means actuated by said crank means and arranged beneath said base plate for engagement with said pin means.

9. An unloading station as set forth in claim 8, wherein said linking means comprises resilient yieldable joint means.

10. A lift truck vehicle comprising a truck frame adapted for movement along a horizontal plane, a boom pivotally mounted on top of said truck frame for rotation about a substantially vertical axis at a location above the bottom of said truck frame, said boom including a portion extending laterally outwardly from said truck frame, means for confining said vehicle for movement along a prescribed path, an actuating plate member along the path of movement of said vehicle including a slotted portion, and means to move said vehicle along said path and to bring said outwardly extending portion of said boom into said slotted portion of said plate member to cause rotation of said boom.

11. A loading device comprising a vehicle including a truck frame, a plate slidable on said frame between predetermined limits, vehicle moving means connected to said plate whereby said plate is moved by said vehicle moving means initially before movement of said vehicle is effected, a boom pivotal on said frame for elevation and descent and means connecting the outer end of said boom with said plate to raise and lower said boom upon movement of said plate prior to movement of said vehicle.

12. An unloading device comprising a platform having an elongated slot therein, a tnlck movable along said platform, a plate slidable on said truck including a portion depending from said plate into said slot, an oscillatable member connected to the depending portion of said plate, means to oscillate said member, a boom pivotally mounted on said truck frame for elevation and lowering about a substantially horizontal axis, said truck frame including a depending portion for engagement with each end of said slot to stop movement of said truck frame whereby initial movement of said oscillatable member will cause movement of said plate without movement of said truck frame and efiect movement of said boom.

13. An unloading device according to claim 12, including a jaw member pivotally mounted at the end of said boom, a line connecting the end of said jaw member with said plate whereby said jaw member is pivoted by movement of said plate.

14. An unloading device according to claim 13, including a member having a slotted portion adjacent the path of movement of said truck frame, and wherein said boom is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and includes an outstanding portion engageable with said slotted portion of said member to cause rotation of said boom as said truck frame is moved past said slotted portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,766,574 Westin et a1. June 24, 1930 2,086,909 Goriup July 13, 1937 2,373,271 Smith Apr. 19, 1945 

